Julianna Pena Slighted By UFC Rankings, Wants to Beat Up Ronda Rousey

Julianna Pena Slighted By UFC Rankings, Wants to Beat Up Ronda Rousey

Julianna Pena isn't one to shy away from saying what she wants and her latest call out leaves nothing to the imagination. Speaking with MyMMANews yesterday

Sep 14, 2016 by Jim Edwards
Julianna Pena Slighted By UFC Rankings, Wants to Beat Up Ronda Rousey
Julianna Pena isn't one to shy away from saying what she wants and her latest call out leaves nothing to the imagination. 

Speaking with MyMMANews yesterday evening, Pena made it clear that she wants two things--a title shot and to beat up Ronda Rousey. When stating her demands, the No. 5 ranked bantamweight addressed the fact that Valentina Shevchenko had jumped ahead of her in rankings number three. 

A panel of press members are the ones accountable for the rankings, however, Pena addressed the UFC president Dana White directly and seemed to blame him for her current ranking.

"Dana [White], you know you guys literally created a No. 3 to jump ahead of me to be No. 3," Pena said. "You know it's bull, you know it. This girl already lost to the champion. I won The Ultimate Fighter and I was the first female to win The Ultimate Fighter. I've never been rewarded for that. I didn't get no Land Rover, I didn't get any extra bonus for fight of the season, or submission of the season even though I finished everyone inside of two rounds. I had the best fights in my opinion and I was never rewarded for that.

"The other girls in the 115-pound division got a belt at the end of The Ultimate Fighter. I've finished and fought everybody and I don't think anyone has beat as many in the women's bantamweight division and not got a title shot. I've seen girls take losses and get title shots. For them to just create this No. 3 when I just beat No. 3 and to jump her ahead of me, it makes absolutely no sense to me."

Pena is adamant she should be the one to get the next title shot at the current champion Amanda Nunes, and can't understand why she's yet to be granted the privilege. 

"The fact I haven't gotten this title shot, I just can't wrap my brain around it--not for the life of me" Pena said. "No one is more deserving of this title shot than me. I feel like I'm he clear cut choice for being the No. 1 contender and I don't look at myself for being ranked No. 5. I just want to fight for the belt and fight for what is mine and show everyone that I'm the force to be reckoned with like I've been saying for many years."

Given the option of either a title shot against Amanda Nunes, or a 'money fight' with Ronda Rousey, the title talk quickly disappeared.

"In this case, it's not about the money, it's about pride and the woman saying I didn't deserve to breathe the same air as another human being," Pena said. "I want to beat up Ronda Rousey and so I will take that Ronda fight all day long."